Stacking mechanism



April 29, 1930. P. A. GOLLNICK ET AL 1,756,920

STACKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 29, 1930.P. A. GOLLNICK 'A 1,756,920

STACKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr.29, 1930 UNITED STATES rTT PAUL A. GOLLNICK AND GEORGE HABREZD, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR-S, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SELECTOGRAPHCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS STAGKING MECHANISM Application filed October 25,1928.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form ofstacking mechanism; to provide a stacking mechanism having improvedmeans for supporting a removable tray in position to receive articlesfrom a guideway along which the articles are fed; to provide improvedmeans for guiding the articles into the tray; and to provide a stackingmechanism of this kind which is particularly adapted for use inaddressing machines for stacking stencil cards in removable storagetrays at the ejecting end of the guideway.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical central section ofan improved stacking mechanism applied to an addressing machine.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and showing one ofthe detents for preventing backward movement of the cards.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan of the improved stacking mechanism.

An improved stacking mechanism to which this invention is applied isadapted for use in connection with various types of machines but, in theembodiment herein shown, it is applied to an addressing machine.Inasmuch as the present invention relates partic ularly to the stackingmechanism, certain parts of the addressing machine not relating theretoand believed unnecessary to a complete understanding of the inventionhave been omitted from the drawings.

In the form shown, the improved stacking mechanism is applied to anaddressing machine having a horizontal guideway along which the stencilsand cards are fed in a stepb-y-ste'p movement to a printing mechanism,which is controlled in its operation by a suitable selector mechanismarranged to coact with the stencils.

An ejector is located adjacent the discharge end of the guideway andincludes an oscillating arm or sweep movable through a quadrant andarranged to engage the stencils seriatim for sweeping them downwardlyinto an Serial No. 314,913.

upright position on a second guideway forming part of the improvedstacking mechanism. Located adjacent the discharge end of the secondguideway, is an improved support adapted to hold a tray in position toreceive stencils directly from the second guideway.

In the form shown, the addressing machine comprises a frame 1 having anendless chain conveyer 2 provided with spaced lugs adapted to engageapertures in cards and stencils 3 for moving the cards and stencilsedgewise along a horizontal guideway 4 formed by spaced guide rails 5and 6. Suitable mechanism, not shown, is provided for moving theconveyor 2 step-by-step to feed the stencils seriatim to the printingmechanism and to the ejector at the discharge end of the guideway.

Adjacent the discharge end of the guideway 4, is a recess 7, to permitthe stencil cards to be swept downwardly from the guideway 4 by anejector 8.

In the form shown, the ejector 8 includes a sweep 9, which is pivotallymounted adjacent the rail 6, so as to permit the sweep to movedownwardly into engagement with the upper face of a card. The sweep 9 isconnected to a crank 10, which is adapted to be intermittently actuatedby suitable mechanism for imparting an intermittent oscillation to thesweep.

The specific structural details of the guideway 4 and ejector 8 form nopart of this invention and are more fully shown and described inapplication Serial No. 215,924, filed August 27 1927, in the names ofPaul A. Gollnick, John J. Toolan and George Harred.

The sweep 9 is adapted to be rocked downwardly through a quadrant forsweeping the card from its horizontal position in the guideway 4 to anupright position in the improved stacking mechanism.

In the form shown, the improved stacking mechanism includes a horizontalguideway 11, and supporting arm 12 adapted to support a removable tray13 in position to receive cards from the guideway 11.

The guideway 11 is located below the guide way 4 and is dispose atsubstantially right angles thereto. In the form shown, the guideway 11comprises a bottom 14, and a pair of side walls 15 provided with rails16 adapted to slidably support a vertical follower 17.

Formed at one end of the bottom 14, adj acent the guideway 4, is anarcuate approach 18, along which the cards 3 are swept by the ejector 8.

Formed in the side walls 15 adjacent the approach 18, are openings inwhich are pivotally mounted detents 19 having tips 20 adapted to projectint-o the guideway 11 for securing the stencils against any backwardmovement upon the rip-stroke of the sweep 9-. Bearing against thedetents 19, are springs 21 adapted to permit retraction of the tips 20to enable the stencil to pass the detents upon the down-stroke of thesweep.

Located adjacent the outer end of the guideway 11, is a dischargeopening 22, through which the cards 3 pass to the tray 13.

Arranged at the discharge end of the guide way 11, is an inclined runway23 forming a continuation of the bottom 14 for guiding the stencils andcards into the tray 13 resting on the improved bracket arm 12, below therunway. Mounted on the walls 15 above the runway 23, is a pair of guides24: adapted to engage the upper edges of the stencils for securing themagainst forward tilting during their passage down the runway 23.

The rails 16 extend beyond the runway 23, so as to permit the follower17 to move outwardly a suflicient distance to enable the stenoils totravel below the follower. Outward movement of the follower 17 islimited by stops 25 formed on the extremities of the rails 16.

Slidably mounted in the tray 13, is a follower 26 which is adapted to bemoved along the tray by the advancing stack of stencils.

The tray 13 is not connected to the runway 23, but merely rests upon thebracket 12.

In the specific form shown, the bracket 12 comprises an arcuate bottom27 having side flanges 28 for retaining the tray on the bracket. Locatedat the inner end of the bracket 12, is a bearing or shoulder 29 forsupporting the inner end of the tray. The

outer end of the tray rests upon the forward extremity of the bottom 27.The bottom 27 is curved so as to permit the tray to be slid rearwardlybelow the runway 23 and into engagement with the bearing 29. The bracket12 is spaced from the runway 23 so as to permit the tray to be insertedbetween the runway and the bracket.

In operation, the stencils 3 are fed stepby step along the guideway 4while the sweep 9 is oscillated intermittently.

Upon each down stroke of the sweep '9, a card is moved downwardly "alongthe approach 1'8 and is pushed past the detents 19 into a verticalposition. Upon the forward movement of the cards 3, the follower 17 ispushed toward the discharge end of the guideway 11, and the cards movedown the runway 23.

/Vhen the cards reach the lower end of the runway 23 they pass below thefollower 17 and then enter the tray 13.

To remove or insert a tray, it is tilted to the position shown in dottedoutline in Fig. 1 so as to enable it to clear the runway 23.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim: 7

1. In a device of the class described, a horizontal guideway adapted tosupport cards edgewise, said guideway having an outlet adjacentone endthereof, a tray support located below said outlet, and an inclinedrunway arranged adjacent said outlet, said runway being spaced from saidsupport to per.- mit the insert-ion of a tray between said support andrunway. I

2. In a device of the class described, a horizontal guideway adapted tosupport cards e'dgewise, said guideway having an outlet adjacent one endthereof, an arouate arm located below said outlet for supporting a tray,and an inclined runway arranged adjacent said outlet for guiding cardsinto the tray, said runway terminating above said arm. I

3. In a device of the class described, a horizontal guideway forsupporting articles movable therethrough, said guideway having an outletadjacent one end thereof, an arm located below said outlet forsupporting a tray, and a vertical follower slidably mounted on saidguideway and adapted to be moved by the articles to a position beyondsaid outlet and above the tray.

4. In a device of'the class described, a horizental guideway forsupporting articles movable therethrough, said guideway having an outletadjacent one end thereof, an arm located below said outlet forsupporting a tray, an inclined runway located adjacent said outlet forguiding articles into the tray, and a vertical follower slidably mountedin said vguideway and adapted to be moved by themticles to a positionabove the tray beyond said runway.

Signed at Chicago this 22d day ofOctober PAUL A. GO-LLNICK. GEORGEI-IARBED.

